Oil can



Aug. 23, 1938. c. H. LEONARD OIL CAN Filed April 17,. 1937 lfbiLeonaz rd Patented Aug. 23, 1938 eArsNr-orFic-E OIL CAN Carl H. Leonard, Wakefield, Nebr.

This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to an improved type of oil can.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved oil can which is so constructed that pressure on the flexible bottom thereof will forcibly eject oil in desired quantities through the spout.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valved spout for an oil can which is adapted to admit air into the can as the oil is forcibly ejected therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved spout for an oil can which may be attached to a conventional oil can for the purpose of forcibly ejecting the oil from the can as the bottom is flexed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described herematter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a vertical section partly broken away and in side elevation of an oil can constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan of the closure of the discharge tube in section.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral Ill designates generally a liquid receptacle which is adapted to receive oil or the like. This receptacle III is provided with a relatively flexible bottom II and a reduced threaded neck I3. Preferably, the receptacle I tapers upwardly and is substantially conical in configuration, although I do not wish to be limited to the particular configuration of the body of the can I0.

In order to provide a means whereby oil or other liquids may be readily dispensed from the can I0, I have provided a spout I2 of suitable length having, in the present instance a curved outer end portion I4. This spout I2 at its inner end is secured to a chambered plug or closure I5 provided with peripheral threads I6 and a flange I I. The threads l6 are adapted to engage the threaded neck I3 of the receptacle I0 so as to tightly secure the spout I2 on the upper end of the receptacle Ill. The chambered plug I5 comprises an inner wall I8 and an outer wall I9 provided with an annular raised portion 20 engaging about the inner end of the spout 20 which is provided with an air vent 2|. The inner wall I8 is provided with a vent 22 and a ball Valve 23 is Application April 17, 1937, Serial No. 137,558

2 Claims. (clam-4s)" adapted to engage against the vent 22, being held thereagainst by means of a spring 26 having an eye 25 at one end thereof upon which the ball 23 is adapted to seat. The other end of the spring 24 is provided with one or more loops and the extremity 26 of the spring 24 is soldered or otherwise fastened to the inner bottom I8 so that the ball 23 will be yieldably supported in a position to close the vent 22.

An elongated tube 21 is formed integral with the spout I2 and extends through the inner bottom I8 and the outer Wall I9 of the plug I5 and is preferably bent longitudinally in a manner such that the inner and thereof will be positioned closely adjacent the junction between the bottom II and the side wall of the can or receptable I0.

In the use and operation of this dispensing device, the closure I5 is unthreaded from the neck I3 and the receptacle II) filled with the desired liquid which, in the present instance is oil and the closure I5 is then replaced. The inner open end of the discharging tube 21 will be positioned closely adjacent the bottom I I at the periphery thereof so that when the bottom I I is flexed inwardly to force oil out of the receptacle I0, the movement of the bottom I I will not effect the passage of oil from the receptacle I0 into the inner or open end of the discharge tube 21.

When the bottom I I flexes outwardly of the receptacle ID a partial vacuum will be formed in the receptacle III which is relieved by atmospheric pressure, unseating the valve 23 and permitting air to pass from the vent 2| through the hollow plug or closure I5 and then pass the opened valve 23 into the interior of the receptacle III. The check valve 23 will yieldingly close when the air pressure inside the can I0 is substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure. Through the construction of a can of this type the flexing of the bottom Ill will, at all times, discharge oil through the spout I2 irrespective of the angular position of the can so long as the inner open end of the discharge tube 21 is submerged in the oil. Preferably, the curved end portion I4 of the spout I2 is directed in the same direction as the inclination of the inner portion of the tube 21 so that when oil is being discharged from the receptacle It], the user of the device will naturally turn the can so that the curved portion I4 will be downwardly and this will then simultaneously position the inner open end of the discharge tube 21 at the bottom of the liquid so that irrespective of the quantity of oil in the can I0, oil will at all times be ejected upon flexing of the bottom due to the fact that when the bottom II is flexed pressure is set up inside the can l0 which can only be relieved by the ejection of oil through the discharge tube 21 and the spout l2.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:-

1. An oil can comprising a receptacle, a flexible bottom carried by said receptacle, a threaded neck carried by said receptacle, a hollow closure threada-bly engaging said neck, said closure having vent means therethrough, a spout, a discharge tube integral with said spout and extending through said closure and terminating at a point adjacent the junction of said bottom and the side wall of the receptacle, a ball valve engaging said vent means, and a resilient arm fixed at one end to said closure and provided with an eye at the other end engaging said valve to normally hold said valve in closed position.

2. A dispensing means for a receptacle having a flexible bottom comprising an elongated spout, a threaded closure carried by said spout provided with a vent opening, an elongated longitudinally bent discharge tube integral with said spout and adapted to be disposed interior of the receptacle with the inner open end adjacent the bottom thereof, a spherical valve engaging said opening, a resilient arm secured at one end to said closure, and an eye carried by the opposite end of said arm engaging said valve to normally hold said valve in closed position.

CARL H. LEONARD. 

